MAID & Access to Care

“Brady, a dietitian and occasional columnist for CBC’s Information Morning Halifax, has lymphedema. It’s a disease that causes an accumulation of fluid and can result in painful swelling, increased risk of blood infection, cellulitis and hardening of the skin. In her case, it’s a side-effect from having her lymph nodes removed during a radical hysterectomy to treat cervical cancer. 

In June, Brady applied for medical assistance in dying (MAID). Following intake, the MAID team brought her case to the attention of clinical lead Dr. Gord Gubitz, who then wrote a letter addressed to the special adviser to the Minister of Health and Wellness. Brady shared the letter with CBC. 

‘I have reviewed dozens of atypical MAID requests, but have never found myself in the position of writing a letter such as this,’ wrote Gubitz on July 7.

‘In my experience, people do not request MAID unless their life circumstances have become so dire that it is the only option. To request a MAID assessment is not an easy thing for most people; to do so when one is only 46 years old, otherwise healthy, and has two children at home is almost unthinkable.'”

Read more on the case of a Halifax woman who has spent years fighting for out-of-province care. Now she’s ready to end her life via CBC News.